CONOR BENN’S future is unclear after news emerged that the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBoC) and United Kingdom Anti-Doping (UKAD) won their appeal against the National Anti-Doping Panel’s ruling to lift his provisional suspension.
The British welterweight contender has not fought in Britain since beating Chris van Heerden in April 2022. Six months later Benn was set to face Chris Eubank Jr at London’s O2 Arena in a blockbuster catchweight contest. However, the bout – scheduled for October 8, 2022 – was pulled during fight week after it was revealed Benn had tested positive for the banned substance clomifene. It later emerged that the substance had been discovered in two separate tests carried out by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA).
In April 2023, news broke that Benn had been placed under a provisional suspension by UKAD since March 15.
That July the NADP ruled that the suspension should be lifted. However, the BBBoC and UKAD challenged that ruling and confirmed one month later they would be appealing the verdict.
Benn has resumed his career in America, winning decisions against Rodolfo Orozco in September and Peter Dobson in February.
On March 26, the Daily Mail reported that the appeal had been successful. The publication added, ‘It is currently unclear whether the outcome of the appeal could lead to Benn’s British-based suspension being reimposed’.
